PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go remains committed to help vulnerable sectors and essential workers cope with the challenges of the pandemic as his staff embarked on a two-day relief effort for thousands of Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association members, jeepney, and bus drivers in Gumaca, Quezon.

To safeguard the well-being of 1,900 transport workers, Go’s outreach team strictly implemented safety and health protocols as they divided the recipients into smaller groups from July 15 to July 16. Go’s staff conducted the distribution activities at Gumaca West Central School where they handed out meals, masks, face shields, and vitamins to the beneficiaries.

“Mga kababayan ko, sa mga TODA, jeepney at bus drivers mayro’n lang po kaming kaunting tulong sa inyo. Magtulungan lang po tayo. Sino ba namang magtutulungan kung ‘di tayo lang po mga kapwa nating Pilipino,” said Go in his video message.

Select recipients also received new pairs of shoes and bicycles that they can use. Furthermore, other recipients were given computer tablets to help their children conveniently access educational materials as they pursue their education under the blended learning approach.

Staff from the Department of Social Welfare and Development were also present to extend further aid as they granted each beneficiary with financial assistance through their Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.

Morris Marco, a 41-year-old transport worker, conveyed his gratitude towards Senator Go for helping him sustain his family as he sent assistance to their community, saying, “Pinagkakasya na lang po namin kung ano pong meron kami, minsan po hindi na po kami kumakain ng apat kong anak. Pero salamat po kay Senator Bong Go dahil tumutulong po siya sa aming mga mahihirap.”

The Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography further offered assistance to beneficiaries with health concerns as Go advised them to visit the nearest Malasakit Center at Quezon Medical Center in Lucena City.

The Malasakit Centers Act which Go authored and sponsored in the Senate was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2019. Under the said measure, it mandates all hospitals run by the Department of Health and the Philippine General Hospital, to establish their Malasakit Centers to assist indigent patients lower their medical expenses.

“Kung kailangan n’yo po ng tulong sa Heart Center sa Maynila, magsabi lang ho kayo. Tutulungan ho namin kayo. Kami na ho ang sasagot sa inyong pagpapaospital kung kakailanganin pong dalahin sa Maynila,” expressed Go.

Go also appealed to the beneficiaries to take part in the vaccination program as he mentioned that vaccination is the key for the country to return to normalcy. He then called on the local government officials to immediately deploy the doses to priority groups to achieve the nation’s target of herd immunity.

To boost the economic opportunities and further improve the delivery of public services in Quezon, Go, as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported the improvements of Gumaca Bypass Road.

He also helped in the funding of other projects in Quezon, including the construction of multi-purpose buildings in Alabat, Candelaria, General Nakar, Infanta, Lucban, Lucena City, and Mauban; improvement and rehabilitation of roads in Alabat, Candelaria, Calauag, Dolores, Lopez, Lucban, Lucena City, San Antonio, and Tiaong-Dolores; conversion of the current Municipal Health Center of Lucban, Quezon to Municipal Infirmary Hospital in Lucban; construction of slope protection in Lucena City and Sariaya; and the construction of Ospital ng San Antonio in San Antonio.

Go, then, thanked Representative Helen Tan, Governor Danilo “Danny” Suarez, Vice Governor Samuel “Sam” Nantes, Mayor Webster Letargo, and other local government leaders for extending their support to more transport workers of their community as they continue to recover amid the global pandemic.

“Mga kababayan ko, alam kong mahirap ang panahon ngayon. Humihingi lang kami ng tulong sa inyo ni Pangulong Duterte, kailangan namin ang inyong kooperasyon at disiplina,” Go ended. (OSBG)